I love creating Art for the Home. The vintage character and folk feel of my pieces are intended to bring warmth and cheer to the collectors that graciously adopt them. Admittedly, it is a bittersweet moment for me when they do sell as I make pieces in a style that suits me well. And, rarely do I get a chance to enjoy my creations for very long before pack & ship day arrives. I tend to finish a collection right before the event occurs when I debut the art. Luckily this spring and summer I scheduled a little one-on-one time with some of my latest pieces before I bid them bon voyage! Subsequently, I snapped a few photos of my most recent one of a kind folk art pieces nestled in our home. I thought you might enjoy.....
* Here is a glimpse as you enter our home, here in Colorado. We flip-flopped our front room with our back sunroom, bringing the table and chairs to the front, and our old mohair couch now settles in the back. The arrangement is more comfortabel for us, and we wonder why it took us about 14 years to figure that out! Haha! Pictured here is a small cat bust resting atop an old green saucer to bring more attention to the art. A couple folk art originals dot the mantel, but the focus remains in the foreground.
* I love how this sweet cat bust came to life. The colors resonate with our home, but I know she is more than content and well-loved in her new home in sunny California! I set her atop an old book to add a little height to this fun character.
* Stepping away, you can see the full arrangement which centers around a vintage Duffy's Delicious Drinks cooler that I picked up at a local antique mall many years ago. I love that color! The old shelf on the red wall houses a small collection of white pottery and earth elements, like feathers, shells, stones, honeycombs, etc... Two button-covered birds perch across the the top and guard the shelf below.
* A close up from below captures the bird at left, covered in vintage buttons. Mom recently visited and proclaimed that I must keep it! So, I have not sold this one yet, but I still might...... :)
* Here is a glimpse into our kitchen and back sunroom. You'll see that our old 1930's couch is now nestled in the back which creates a cozy place for gathering. A hand-painted plate that I purchased from artist friend Sharon Bloom hangs on the orange wall, and ties in some of my favorite hues.
* Atop our vintage 1940s fridge perches one of my butterfly egg cups. From my recent Flower Power collection, this little sweetie was difficult to let go. But, I know this bug is thrilled to be living in the home of a passionate art lover in Jersey!
* One of a few Flower Keeper cat originals found the purrrfect spot to rest atop an old corner shelf in our sunroom. The delicate tulips were picked from our backyard, and together the whole ensemble made me smile. I know this sweet character is making more smiles now that he resides in a loving home in Oregon...
* And lastly for now, another dear butterfly egg cup character cozied up to the corner on our kitchen window sill. What a delight a little fellow like this can add to your day as you go about your routine. She's now bringing joy and laughter to a sweet family in Michigan...
As bittersweet as it is to say farewell to each and every character I make, the pleasure is in knowing that each will bring delight to those near. If a piece of art has the power to distract, to draw one in and captivate, to generate new emotions, to inspire and stir the imagination, then the artist can take a deep breath and feel content.
Ahhhhhh.......
Cheers,
~ Johanna
